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Ethiopia reshuffles government, two Oromos occupy key positions

The Ethiopian parliament on Tuesday approved a new cabinet formed by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn after he promised to address concerns of inadequate representation of other regions in government.

Two key ministries have been returned to Oromos thus Workneh Gebeyehu, who was formerly Transport Minister is now Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dr Negeri Lencho, journalism professor at the University of Addis Ababa is now the Minister of Government Communication Affairs Office.

Only nine out of the 30 previous ministers retained their positions in the new government that has only three women represented.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn stated that the appointment was done on the basis of competences and commitments.

Former Communication Minister, Getachew Reda, became unpopular during the protests and it is believed that it cost him his position.

Meanwhile, former Foreign Minister, Tedros Adhanom, is out of the government to focus on his campaign for the post of Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Anti-government protests since November 2015 expended from the Oromo Region to Amhara after continued calls against dominance of minority Tigreans at key positions in the government and security forces.

The two protesting regions form more than 60% of the population.

Ethiopia declared a state of emergency on October 9 to curb the unrest which turned violent leading to damage of properties including those of local and international businesses.

Before the State of Emergency was imposed, over 50 people died on October 2 in a stampede at a festival in Bishoftu after police fired teargas and warning shots to disperse protesters at the event.

At least 500 people have been killed and thousands arrested in the wave of anti-government protests in the Amhara and Oromia regions over the past months.

International bodies including the United Nations and the European Union have called on the Ethiopian government to exercise restraint against protesters.